COMBINATION WEAPON, HUNTING KNIFE / FLINTLOCK PISTOL

After a German original from ca. 1770, 20th century work.
Gilt, brass grip, spirally grooved, the grip base is decorated with a raised ornamental band. The round barrel is located in the grip piece and is closed by a long iron plug, which also serves as the ramrod. The mechanical parts of the iron flintlock mechanism were mounted on both sides of the grip. Single-edged blade (L 21.7 cm), double-edged towards the tip, gilt base, with engraved decoration.
L 34.8 cm.

The original combination weapon with scabbard, which served as a model for this copy, was offered for sale on 13 September 2013 by the Auction House Fischer, Lucerne under Lot No. 88 for CHF 18'000.-. The blade featured a gilt hunting-related etched decoration. Knives and forks combined with weapons are very rare; the oldest examples are known from the 2nd half of the 17th century. Cf. Bestecke, Die Egloffsteinsche Sammlung auf der Wartburg, 1994/96, p.163. H. Gordon Frost: Blades and Barrels, 1972, p. 17, No. 20.